Friction-clutch.



110,846,350. PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907.

W. ROTHE.

A FRICTION CLUTCH. APPLICATION FILED DE O- 11,1905.

lNVEN-I-QR. WILLIAM Row-HE.

WILLIAM F. ROTHE, OF EAST ST; LOUIS, ILLINOIS.

FRlOTlON-CLUTQH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 11,1905. Serial No. 291.267.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. Ro'rnn, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of East St. Louis,Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFriction-Clutches, of which the following is a specification containinga full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to a friction-clutch, particularly adapted forshaft-couplings or for any point where it is desired to transmit rotarymotion from one shaft to another, which shafts are in alinement.

The object of my invention is to construct a simple, inexpensive, andeasily-operated friction-clutch which may be readily assembled for useor taken apart for repairs.

My invention consists in certain novel features of construction andarrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully set forth,pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved clutch in positionupon the adjacent ends of a pair of shafts. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectiontaken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of one of thefriction-blocks I make use of in carrying out my invention, and Fig. 5is a side elevation of a slide-block that is detachably secured to thefriction-block and which actuates the same.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates adriving-shaft, and 2 the driven shaft. Fixed upon the drivingshaft 1 isa pulley 3, which is provided on one side with an extension 4, in whichis formed a continuous V-shaped groove 5. In some instances this groovemight be formed in a rotating part of an engine, dynamo, or driven gear.

@Keyed onto the driven shaft is a spider 6, the outer ends of the armsof which are bifurcated, as indicated by 7. Arranged to slide to andfrom the driven shaft in each bifurcated arm of the spider is a block 8,that is provided on its outer end with a dovetailed lug 9. Pivotallysecured to the inner end of each black 8 is a short link 10, andpivotally secured to the inner end of each {link is the center of abell-crank lever 11, and the inner end of each bell-crank lever thecentral portion thereof. The longer arms 12 of the bell-cranks extendoutwardly from the spider 6, and passing through their outer ends arescrew-bolts 13, which are each provided with lock-nuts 14. Thesescrewbolts are arranged so that they'all project toward the shaft 2, andtheir inner ends normally engage upon the periphery of a cone 15, thatis arranged to slide upon the driven shaft 2. This cone may bemanipulated in any suitable mamier. Surrounding all of the arms 12 ofthe bell-cranks just inside the screw-bolts 13 are leaf-springs 15*, thetendency of which is to draw the free ends of the bell cranks togetherand to maintain the points of the screw-bolts upon the periphery of thecone 15.

The pivotoints between the links 10 and the bell-cran rs 11 are slightlyout of aline ment with the pivot-points of the links 10 with the blocks8 and the pivot-points of the bell-cranks with the spider 6, whicharrangement is necessary in order to cause the blocks 8 to moveoutwardly when the outer ends of the arms 12 of the bell-cranks aremoved outwardly by the movement of the cone 15.

16 designates friction-blocks triangular in crosssection and curvedlongitudinally in order to fit in the groove 5, and fixed on the base ofeach block is a plate 17, provided with a transverse dovetailed groove18 of such size as to receive the dovetailed lug 9 of the correspondingblock 8. These frictionblocks are referably constructed of hard wood orana ogous material that will create friction while under pressure.

The various parts of my improved clutch are assembled as shown in Figs.2 and 3, and while said clutch is not in action the drivingshaft rotatesin the usual manner, and the friction-blocks are not engaged against thesurfaces of the V-shaped groove 5, owing to the action of the springs15, which draw the arms 12 of the bell-cranks together, and consequentlydraw the friction-blocks 16 to their limit of movement toward the drivenshaft 2.

When it is desired to throw the clutch into operation to impart rotarymotion to the driven shaft, the cone 15 is moved toward the spider 6,and in so doing the inner ends of the screw-bolts 13 are engaged, and byso doing Patented March 5, 1907. V j

is pivotally secured to the spider 6, adjacent links are pivoted, willhe moved outwardly,

thus forcing the blocks 16 into frictional engagement with the surfacesof the V-shaped groove 5. As soon as the friction thus created reaches acertain point the frictionblocks 16, spider 6, and parts carried therebywill rotate with the driving-shaf t 1, and as a result the driving-shaft2 will he correspondingly driven. This result is maintained as long asthe cone is held in its set position to hold the ends of the arms 1.2outwardly, and when said cone is slid hackwardly away from the ends ofthe arms 12 the springs 15 will move the ends of said arms 12 inwardly,and thus draw the frictionhlocks away from the surfaces of the groove 5.

The dovetailed connection between the friction-blocks 16 andslide-blocks 8 allows said friction-blocks to be readily removed inorder that they can he renewed after becoming worn from use.

The set-screws 13 permit adjustment between the hell-cranks and thecone, and this adjustment controls the distance of movement of thefriction-blocks 16.

I have shown and descrilted a cone for operating the outer ends of thebell-cranks 12;

but other devices may be employed for imparting an outward movement tothe ends of said hell-cranks.

It will be readily understood how the clutch might be mounted upon thedrivingshaft 1 and impart rotary motion to a pulley or gear-wheelmounted upon the driven shaft.

My improved construction is simple, strong, and durable, is easilyoperated, repaired, and adjusted, and the peculiar shape of the groove,together with the frictionlJlOCkS, permits of a maximum amount offriction where compactness is essential.

I claim- In a friction-clutch, a rotating member provided in one facewith a Vsl1aped groove, a shaft, a spider fixed thereon, blocks arrangedto slide in the outer ends of the arms of the spider, the outer ends ofwhich blocks are dovetailed, friction-block's engaging in the \l-shapedgroove, and plates fitted to the inner faces of the frictionl3-locks, inwhich plates are formed dovetailed grooves which receive the dovetailedends of the sliding blocks; substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM F. ROTHE. I/Vitnesses M. P. SMITH, E. M. IIARRINGTON.

